Display-rack



(No Model.)

L. E. ARMSTRONG.

DISPLAY RAUK.

No. 448,811. Patented Mai. 24, 1891;

UNITED TATES ATENT Orricno LOUIS E. ARMSTRONG, OF FORT DODGE, IOWA.

DISPLAY-RACK.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,811, dated March 24, 1891.

Application filed March 4, 1890.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS E. ARMSTRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Dodge, in the county of Vebster and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display-Racks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete rack. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the stan dard-supporting rails or pieces. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the end bars or rails. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the rack.

The practice now in use for displaying neckties and other articles in show-cases is to lay the articles in the case eitherinthe boxes in which they are packed or outspread, or otherwise arranged, and while the display may at first be effective and attractive it soon becomes disar'ranged by the removal of the sold articles, requiring the vacant places to be filled with otherarticles, which cannot be readily done'and produce a good effect without a complete rearrangement of the articles in many cases.

The object of this invention is to construct a display-rack on which articles can be placed to produce the best effects, either in a showcase or on a counter or other support, and

from which the articles can be readily removed and replaced, and which will make an effective display even with a portion of the spaces vacant; and the nature of the invention consists in providing a display-rack which can be set up inside of a show-case or elsewhere and is formed of a detachable frame, a series of rails, and a series of standards or supports, in providing an inclined rail or strip and a series of standards or supports therefor, in providing a standard or support with an engaging point, and in the several parts and combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim as new.

In the drawings, A represents the front rail $erial No. 342,553. (No model.)

or strip of the frame, having at each end a mortise a.

B is the rear rail or strip of the frame, having at each end an overlap Z).

G are the end rails or strips, each having a tenon c at its front end and an overlap c at its rear end.

D are the intermediate rails or strips, each having a tenon (l at each end to enter holes (1 in the end rails or strips G.

E are the standards or supports, the lower ends of which enter into holes 6 in the front rail or strip A and in the intermediate rails or strips D, and, as shown, each standard or support at its upper end has an engaging point f, with an upward projection. Each point f is slender, and its end is formed sharp to enter without breaking, tearing, or disarranging the material, and the entering of the point in the material is facilitated by the up ward inclination thereof, which presents the point in the best position possible for engagin g the article to be displayed on the standard.

The rails or strips A, B, C, and D and the standards or supports E can be made of wood or other suitable material, and the rails or strips A B O can be of a length to form a frame to lie in the show-case or a frame to suit the place where the display is to be made. The lower face or bottom of the rail or strip A is beveled or inclined, and the end mortises a are formed parallel with the beveled or inclined face g, While the tenons c are straight out, so that when the rail or strip A is in place on the rails or strips C it will have a rearward inclination, and the holes or openings 6 are parallel with the front face of the rail or strip A,which sets the standards or supports E when in position at a rearward inclination corresponding to the inclination of the rail or strip A, and such inclination can be more or less, as desired. The rails or strips D each have an in clined orbeveled face or bottom g, and the tenons d are formed at right angles to the face 9 and enter the straight openings or holes d in the end rails or strips 0, so that when in place the rails or strips D all stand with a rearward inclination, and the openings or holes 6 are parallel with the front faces of the rails or strips 1), which set the standards or supports when in place with a rearward inclination corresponding to the inclination of the rails or strips l7, and can be greater or less, as desired.

The standards or supports E can be of any length desired and suit the place where used, and can be formed as shown or of any shape that will hold the article to be displayed. As shown, each of these standards or supports has aprojecting point at its upper end, which point f can be entered into the article and prevent any slipping down thereof, and this entering of the point f into the article is had without any injurious effects by reason of the point being slender and sharp, as the hole made by the point will not be observable when the article is withdrawn from the standard, because being so small the material will close the hole made, leaving the article intact. The standards or supports are, as shown, all of the same length; but when in place and looking down thereon they stand stepped, owing to their inclination, so that each row of these standards or supports is clear and distinct of itself, presenting the displayed articles in separate and distinct rows without confusion.

The rack as a whole is placed in a showcase by first inserting the rail or strip A in the case, then adding the end rails or strips (3 by inserting the tenons c in the mortises (t and securing them by screws It or other fastening means, then adding the rear rail or strip 13 to the rear ends of the end rails or strips C and securing the lap endst) and c by screws it or other fastening means, then add ingthe intermediate rails or strips 1) by inserting the tenons (Z in the openings d, and 1 then adding the standards or supports E by inserting them in holes 0. The front rail or strip A is advanced to the front of the case when attached to the end rails or strips t, and the rear rail or strip will be at the back side of the case, thus forming the frame inside of the case for the intermediate rails or strips 1) to be dropped into position, locating the rack as a whole within the showcase.

The rack is shown in use for displaying neckties, and when so useda necktie is placed on each standard or support l6, if so desired, and is held in place by the pointf, which is entered into the tie on its under side, and being slender and sharp will not tear apart, disarrange the folds, or in any way injure the make-up of the tie, which remains int'act,and it will be seen that the ties are in steps, one behind the other, so that the entire lot of ties is presented to view and in the best position for display. The removal of a few ties will not break the display, as the remaining ties maintain their uniformity of outline, which is not broken by the vacant spaces, and this will be true of whatever article is displayed. A vacant standard or support can be filled again by placing another tie or article thereon, and such refilling will not displace the articles on the other standards or supports.

The parts composing the rack as a Whole are detachable one from the other, enabling the rack to be bound into a small compass for shipment, and the party using the rack can readily put the parts together, as all that is required is to attach the front rail or strip to the end rails or strips and secure the rear ail or strip to the end rails or strips and place the intermediate rails or strips in position, and then insert the standards or supports in their holes, which can be done by any one.

The rack is very simple in construction and can be used inside of a show-case oron a counter or elsewhere, and in use the display made will be the best possible, as the inclined standards or supports give a presentation of the article to a person standing in front of the rack that is the most desirable.

The rails or strips A, l3, C, and I) can be of the shape shown in cross-section or round or oval or other shape, so long as they are arranged to have the rails or strips A and I) hold the standards or supports E at a rearward incline, and as many or few rails or strips D can be used as desired.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, in a display-rack, of a supporting-trame, cross-bars set inclined in the frame, and a series of rigid standards for each cross-bar, each standard having an upwardly-projecting slender sharp point at its upper end for entering the material and retaining the article on the standard, substantially as specified.

[.Ol'lS E. ARMSTRONG.

Witnesses:

O. \V. Rom), FRED GERLAT). 

